New Peace and Conflict Studies Program, American University in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Warmest greetings from the ancient city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and congratulations for the Global Magazine 3!

I am very happy to share with you news about the Peace and Conflict Studies Program that will be initiated in summer 2013 by the AmericanUniversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Program is part of the Study Abroad Program, giving opportunity to students from USA and around the world opportunity to learn, exchange, and enrich themselves by new knowledge and experiences, people and culture. The Program welcomes graduate and undergraduate students, as well as practitioners taking it for training, giving possibility for credit transfer and internships in respectable international and local institutions.

The AmericanUniversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina is present since 2005 with departments in Tuzla, Sarajevo, Mostar and Banjaluka, several programs in modern science, partnerships and close cooperation with USA, local and international institutions, including European Centre for Security Studies George C. Marshall, State University of New York, GeorgeMasonUniversity, etc.

Peace and Conflict Studies Program is set in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina – the country which, with other countries of former Yugoslavia, at the end of twentieth century experienced one of the hardest wars in newer history of Europe. This is the country in which history of war and peacebuilding could be seen and touched, and touch the students with its authentic and power, as well as natural beauty and cultural richness. Rebuilding from the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina is in a steady progress to European Union and NATO membership.

Sarajevo is a beautiful historical city nested between five mountains, known by its cultural and religious diversities – the place in which Islam, Judaism and Christianity are present in centuries, and towers of different churches, mosques and a synagogue almost literary touching each other, placed in the same little square. Despite divisions and horrible of war and over thousand days of the siege of the city, coexistence between people of different ethnic, religious and national backgrounds survived, and Sarajevo kept its multicultural life, visible on streets, schools and every place. Sarajevo was the Winter Olympic city in 1984; and will confirm its hospitality again to the Youth Winter Olympic Games in 2017.

The Peace and Conflict Studies Program will be held from 2 June to 3 August, in facilities of the AmericanUniversity placed in an attractive and modern building at the heart of the city.

Courses: Balkan history, Statebuilding and Peacebuilding, Security of Balkans, and Genocide, War Crimes and Transitional Justice with be given by local and international lecturers and enriched by number of meetings with governmental, local and international authorities and institutions with significant roles in the process of peacebuilding and building the state ( for more information about the Peace and Conflict Studies Program please, visit www.aubih.edu.ba/en/studyabroad)

The Program also offers organized accommodation and number of study travels through the region that gives opportunity to meet the history and reality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, learn about wars and coexistence, its cultural richness and beauty, including visits to Srebrenica, the very place of genocide, world’s heritage city of Dubrovnik, historical cites of Jajce and Mostar, known with beautiful Neretva River and the NewOldBridge, built after the war from the stones of a historical one – appearing again from the ashes.

Peace and Conflict Studies Program is Bosnia and Herzegovina is a special chance for study abroad, in a new group and environment, across the borders of continents, states and universities, groups and cultures. More of that, it is a unique opportunity to gain the knowledge and insights in the matter of conflict and peace at the place where the history and legacies of war, as well as efforts to build the state and sustainable peace, could be seen, touched and discussed with the witnesses and participants, giving to each lesson an additional dimension of “living history”.

Also, this is the opportunity to meet the people, cultural heritage and beautiful nature of the country placed in the heart of Europe, and – enjoy education!